I have come here countless times over the years. It's one of my favorite spots. It's peaceful, not…read moreoverly crowded, and has a really calming, almost zen feel to it. The views of the water and surrounding hills make it a great place to reset for a bit. Perfect for a quiet walk, light hike, or just getting away from the noise for a while.

Who Gives a Dam?…read more Man-made reservoir in the Santa Cruz Mountains that spans a solid 338-acres and is the third-largest in Santa Clara County. It is situated inside a ±950-acre County Park that has a variety of activities for all manner of outdoor lovers. The Good: *The southerly "beginning" to the Los Gatos Creek Trail which runs for ±10miles to the north. *Rowing, paddling, and fishing are all allowed (after proper inspections and licensing ofc) *Picnic tables near the reservoir *Limekiln trail was mostly shaded, which is good because this are can get very warm in the summer. *Park trails connect to Sierra Azul OSP and St Joseph's Hill OSP *Mountain bikes (NOT electric!) are OK *Leashed dogs are permitted. *Fairly decent cell phone signal (at least where we were) The Meh: *Parking is $6 if you park inside the lot, but free if you use the "street" parking (pay attention to signs!) or small dirt lots near the trailheads. *In regards to the parking, you don't need to park in the lot unless you're going to use/visit the reservoir itself. Otherwise, just find where your trail is and park there. *No swimming The Ugly: *We did the Limekiln Trail and that was a little rough-&-ready in some areas, as the years of water damage and infrequent maintenance are starting to take their toll.

The ride is always very nice! You have to pick the right time though. On a gorgeous day on the…read moreweekend, there's a lot of foot traffic so riding a bike may be slow down and go. The serene surroundings of the creek and trees always makes it very nice, though!

Easy paved trail with not much of steep uphill/downhill sections, ideal for anyone with elderly…read morefolks in their group. Along the creek and some beautiful green areas. Our kids enjoyed the various exercise stations along the trail, though some of them are in need of repair. Trail ended in Campbell Park, where they have a nice playground for kids under 8 years old to enjoy. Happy trailing!

Went on a trail walk and ended up at this park to eat the snacks and e brought with us. It was a…read moreMonday afternoon, so it was pretty quiet. We sat closer to the bathrooms, so far enough away from the playground. If you're going to sit on the grass just be careful about not sitting in geese poop. They have several areas where they keep picnic tables. You might just want to bring a wet rag or something to clean off the space. If you're looking for entertainment for the kids, you can take a mini train ride throughout the park. On weekends they have the snack bar open. They sell candy, soda pop, hamburgers and hot dogs. Never had anything there but in case you came to the park and decided to stay a little longer, then there's food available. They keep the park relatively clean. Plenty of garbage cans so no littering. There's a beautiful creek that is close to the park.

My only complaint about Oak Meadow is the parking situation is super tricky! The lot is way too…read moresmall for such a big and wonderful park! Other than that, the carousel and train are so much fun and I can't say enough good things about the staff that work tirelessly here on weekends! I had my kid's birthday party here and it was so much fun. The only downside was parking was difficult for guests and our magician. I had to haul ass to the parking lot multiple times to help with parking and it was a bummer. But I will love this park forever.

This is a nice calm park to spend some time surrounded by nature. The path and picnic areas are…read morefairly clean. They have street parking and also paid parking lot as well. I noticed it was paid parking last minute so I went outside and parked on the street. I'd say it'll be better if the parking price was posted easy to see at the entrance booth. I noticed some dirtiness on the picnic tables but that's expected for public park outdoor tables, and I don't think it's a big issue.

One of our favorite places in San Jose! There's so much to do at the park, either take a lovely…read morewalk, enjoy the water, or ample activities. Theres ample parking on the side street. The loop around the lake is really lovely. Definitely recommend on a beautiful weekend morning!

Came here for a hike on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend! Arrived at the Bald Mountain parking…read morelot around 8:30am and there were lots of spots still available. I went on the Mount Umunhum out and back trail. Still pretty green with some wildflowers! There were a decent amount of hikers, and lots of bicyclists. Seems like a very popular spot for mountain bikers! Had to watch out for cyclists most of the hike. Along the trail, there were some informational posts about the mountain's history and at the summit, there was a neat informational site, Native American pow wow example, and good balcony for pictures. Learned that Umunhum has that name because the Natives thought it sounded like a hummingbird! Partially shaded but I still recommend going in the morning. There were lots of switchbacks so the hike felt long - took me around 3 hours and 15 minutes including breaks to complete. When I came back around 11:45am, the parking lot was full and some people were parked on the side of the road. Overall, I would classify the Mount Umunhum trail as moderately difficult. Because of the switchbacks, the incline is very gradual but the hike feels longer. Good views and trails were well-maintained with markers. The constant cyclists slightly detracted from the hiking experience, but I would still recommend!

Did the Mt Umunhum trail. Mostly shaded. Free parking. Great views. Some historical stuff (WW2…read moreradar builing and Native American religious site) at the top which is a nice reward making it to the top. Can drive all the way to the top if mobility is an issue.

Flat and easy trail around the lake. Lot of cyclists competing to use the narrow trails. Two…read moreteenagers almost bumped into us while we're walking around the lake. Lot of street parking and you can opt to park at the park with fee.

Nice, peaceful place. The entrance gate is closed/locked until 8am and then a staff member unlocks…read moreit so that vehicles can enter. There are a number of picnic tables and benches near the water. Great for watching the birds. There are signs that say that feeding wildlife is prohibited. Pros: -peaceful -clean -lots of trash cans Cons: -n/a

I have discovered summer weekday paddle boarding! It's $15 an hour and a beautiful escape from the…read morefast pace of life. You, the geese, & the water. It's a fantastic workout basicaly walking on water. I'm super appreciative that they hold on to your valuables while you are on the water. I do wish they allowed you to launch your own paddle board. Not worth it to deduct a star tho given how pricey Shoreline is in comparison. This will be my summer workout preference for years to come!

Vasona Lake is a great location for biking, running, picnics, and water activities! I've been here…read moretwice now for SUP and kayaking and would definitely recommend checking out. What to expect: 1. You'll need to pay $6 per vehicle at the park entrance 2. Pets are allowed on pedal boats, kayaks, and SUP (weight restrictions vary per water craft) 3. Pets are NOT allowed on canoes or sailboats 4. Life jackets are included in rental fee 5. The water is GREEN, so watch your step! I've seen people fall in and it isn't pretty. When planning your visit, I would also recommend making reservations online and arriving ahead of time because parking can take a minute. Overall, this rental spot is fairly priced, has friendly service, and is a fun place to bring your friends, family, and pups!

This is my go-to local hike!…read more I love that this trail is near to many things and I can go for a nice long (or short) hike within half an hour from where I'm at. While parking can be tough if you go a bit later on the weekends, it's pretty easy to find parking on the weekdays - just make sure you don't park in the employee spots near downtown LG! I love that I can vary the length of the hike just by choosing different trails to take. On days that I have more time and the weather is nice - I take the long trail and soak in the beauty. On days where I'm a bit more rushed or the weather isn't as good - I can do a quick up and back down then head on my way. Afterwards, a short walk takes you to downtown LG with lots of options for shopping and eating! A very nice place to hang out with friends/a date after a good jaunt into nature. And if you're here on Sunday - there's the farmers market to enjoy as well!

Parking is limited. Park at the street. The trail is middle to easy, a bit steep, very noisy with…read moretraffic next to the trail. The peak is nothing but grassland and not shaded. We finished the trail quickly and headed back to Los Gatos downtown, lot of nice shops and restaurants.